In Georgia, opposition clashes with taxi drivers

On July 1, a clash burst out in the capital of Georgia between taxi drivers and supporters of the opposition, who keep blocking the Rustaveli Avenue for almost three months already with their demand of President's resignation. Taxi drivers arrived to the building of the parliament in an organized column and demanded to open the Rustaveli Avenue for traffic.

They complain that because of blocked streets they have to drive extra distances, which means extra money on gasoline. Besides, the peripheral small streets, where traffic is now concentrated after blocking the Rustaveli Avenue are too narrow for the load; therefore, jams are very often there.

A verbal skirmish between taxi drivers and oppositionists lasted for about 20 minutes and was stopped by interference of the leaders of the opposition, as reported by the "News-Georgia" Agency.

Bidzina Gudzhabidze, spokesman of the Conservative Party of Georgia, has accused the government of inspiring this action and has stated that not ordinary drivers, but activists of the party in power, were the action participants. The "Georgia Today" Agency adds that a similar statement was made by Salome Zurabishvili, leader of the Party "Way of Georgia".